to dispute the assertion, and submitted to be
taken down to the courts after morning school by Dick, where, in full
view of Heathcote and Coote, the two played an exciting match, in which,
of course, Dick came off victorious, for the simple reason that Aspinall
had not the moral courage to beat him.

Towards the end of the game Cresswell and Cartwright walked up with
their rackets. Finding all the courts occupied, Cresswell said to
Dick--

"You two may as well make up a four with Heathcote and Coote; we want
one of the courts."

Dick was delighted to give up the court, but he was far too fagged to
play any more. So was Aspinall, wasn't he? Besides, they neither of
them cared about four-handers.

Heathcote and Coote, for their part, were far too absorbed in their game
to heed Cresswell's suggestion. They were playing best out of fifteen
sets, Georgie announced, and had just finished the third. Which being
known, the spectators fell away from that part of the field rapidly.

The two o'clock bell sounded before the fifth set was over, rather to
Coote's relief, who had been getting just tennis enough during the last
week.

The two champions were walking back lovingly to the school, when, as
they approached the Quad gate, Heathcote said--

"Hallo! there's Webster! What's he hanging about for there?"

"Perhaps you owe him a bill," said Coote.

"Not I. I've jacked Webster up; he's a surly beast."

"I was in his shop this morning," said Coote. "There was such a
stunning little shut-up penholder, about so big. I can't fancy how they
make them shut up so small."

"Did you buy it?"

"No; I couldn't afford it. Hallo! what does he want? He's beckoning."

"Jolly cheek of him!" said Heathcote. "If he wants you, let him come.
I wouldn't go to him if I were you. Call out and ask him what he
wants."

Whereupon Coote called out:--

"What do you want?"

"I want you," said the bookseller, approaching.

"Tell him you're busy, and he'd better come again."

"I'm busy, I say," cried Coote; "come again."

"No, thank you," said Mr Webster, stepping before the boys. "Ah! good
day to you, Mr Heathcote; quite a stranger, sir. If you'll allow me, I
would like a word with your friend?"

"You know you'll get in a row, Webster, if you're seen up here," said
Heathcote. "All the shop fellows have to stop at the gate."

Having delivered which piece of friendly caution, Georgie walked on,
leaving Coote and the bo